Container



Feb. 22, 1938. D, BR PHY 2,109,100

CONTAINER Filed Sept. 5, 1955 INVENTOR. do/m fl flap/fig.

7/; ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 Qumran STATES PATENT OFFICE '2'Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and relates more particularly to a novel container for cigarettes, cigars and the like, the container having improved closure means and 5 means for facilitating the removal of the contents.

The more popular cigarettes are usually packed in non-rigid paper containers as contrasted with the rigid paper boxes in which the more expensive l cigarettes are sold. The cigarettes are necessarily packed quite tightly in order to accommodate twenty cigarettes in a container of small and convenient size. In view of this tight packing, the user normally experiences considerable l difficulty in removing the first few cigarettes.

Various containers have been devised which have means to facilitate the removal of the contents. Some of these have included perforated or scored opening portions, pull cords or tapes, etc.

20 Virtually all of these containers have proven unsatisfactory for the reason that they have, been too expensive to produce and the cigarette manufacturer, who is operating on a very close margin of profit, cannot increase the cost of each 25 container by even one cent.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a container having imp oved closure and opening means to facilitate the removal of the first cigarettes which are 30 withdrawn from the package, which container can be produced as cheaply as the present conventional container in which the popular brands of cigarettes are sold and furthermore can be produced by the present packaging and wrapping 35 machine with only a slight and inconsequential re-arrangement of parts.

The present non-rigid paper container for cigarettes is rectangular in transverse or horizontal section and the upper end of the container is held 40 in this rectangular shape by means of the revenue stamp. When this stamp is broken or removed. the container immediately assumes a more rounded shape and the cigarettesare more easily removed.

- 45 In the present invention, the revenue stamp is downwardly on the side walls of the container 55 an equal distance. In carrying out my invention,

It was considered a matter of convenience to have thetwo end portions extendthe revenue stamp occupies substantially the same position that it occupies at present, except that one end thereof is positioned slightly more than one-eighth of an inch higher and on the opposite side of the container the other end por- 5 tion extends downwardly a corresponding distance further than it does at present. This latter end is provided with a glue strip which stops just short of its end and in the process of aflixing the stamp, this end portion is slightly bent or scored to cause it to extend slightly outwardly from the vertical side wall of the container.

This unglued, outwardly projecting portion functions as a tear tab which may be readily grasped by the fingers. As this tab is raised upwardly it also raises the closure flap, which is integrally formed along the upper edge of the rear wall of the container. In order to further facilitate the removal of the first few cigarettes from the package, the upperedge of the front wall of the package is formed with a small rectangular recess, the width of which is somewhat less than the width of the revenue stamp. recess also extends transversely over the top of the package. Thus, when the rear closure flap, to which the revenue stamp is joined, is raised, a plurality of cigarettes in the central portion of the package become readily accesible to the user.

After a cigarette has been removed, the flap may again be closed until another cigarette is desired. It will be seen from the foregoing construction that the herein described container can be manufactured at precisely the same cost as the present conventional container, since the only change in the container proper is in the slot or opening which is formed in the front wall and front closure flap.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a perspective view of the embodiment in its preferred form,the view showing the container in an opened condition; Fig. 2 is a broken front elevation of the closed container; Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation thereof; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of I Fig. 3.

As previously stated, the main body of the conclosed-by means of a suitable adhesive and the upper end of the ginner portion, which projects somewhat above the upper end of the outer cover, 55.

is first folded inwardly on the two short edges ly Joined to the rear outer wall it in order that to form closure flaps i and i. The front portion the container, prior to opening, beheld in its I on the long edge is then folded, and finally the rear portion II is folded in place.

In the present improved container, which forms the subject matter of my invention. the front portion or closure flap U is provided with a centrally disposed rectangular cut-away portion ii which extends a short distance into the vex tical front wall. If of the container, the'loweredge of this recessbeing designated as it. The width of the recess is somewhat less than'the width of the revenue stamp it which is placed at provided with a narrow,

of glaslve paper or the upper end of all cigarette containers. The revenue stamp is positioned in substantially. the same location as in the conventional container, except that its end portion II which engages the rear wall It is positioned somewhat higher than in the conventional container, and the front portion it extends down dly on the-front wall If a correspondingly greater distance. Thus, when the revenue stamp is secured in place, in the position shown in Fig. 3, the recess in the top and front walls of the container is completely covered.

The front portion of the stamp is desirably provided with a transverse scoring a slight distance from its lower end in order to form a tab or finger ensuing portion I! which projects outwardly from the front if, all as shown in Fig. 3.

Inasmuch as the rear closure flap it does not completely cover the exposed cigarettes when in a closed position, but rather are these remaining cigarettes engaged and covered by the revenue stamp, it is desirable that the adhesive on the lower surface of the tab be applied in such a fashion as not to come in contact with these cigarettes. To accomplish this, the stamp is longitudinal glue strip on each side thereof, which glue strip at the front end portion stops Just short of the edge in order that the portion is may be readily grasped by the fingers.

The lower end of the vfront portion of the stamp may, if desired, be provided with a transverse glue strip but it is not essential to provide an air-tight seal since most cigarette containers are further provided "cellophane" the moisture in the tobacco.

Also the position of the revenue stamp may be varied at some length without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is desirable, how-.-

which retains ever. to have at least a portion thereof adhesivewith an external coveringrectangular shape. I

It may be pointed out in this connection that the Commissioner of Internal Revenueis specifl cally authorized to alter the form, size, or shape of the revenue stamp and accordingly it is con- I tempiated that a wider or longer stamp may be employed, if desired, to more eifectively carry the container, any rectangular strip, whether in-,

tegrally formed with the rear wall of the container orhot, may be employed to carry out the invention.

What Islam is:

1. In a container for cigarettes and the like, a substantially rectangular casing which "is permanently closed at its lower end and is provided with integrally formed closure flaps along its four upper edges, the front closure flap having a centrally disposed rectangular cut-away portion extending from its upper edge to a pointbelow the upper edge of the front wall of the co tainer, the rear closure flap being positioned ovEr the front closure flap when in a closed positio a rectangular member of greater width than the to the front and rear walls and to the closure flaps, retaining the latter in position, the lower front portion of said rectangular member being unsecured to said front wall and forming a tear tab. I 7

2. A container made from flexible material and having at one end thereof projecting portions integrally formed with the side walls and being folded, inwardly to form top closure flaps, the closure flap on the front wall having a centrally disposed opening therein which extends into the front wall, the closure flap on the rear wall being width of the cut-away portion adhesively joined 

